CARLSBAD: Schools may benefit from increased property values
CUSD decides to keep smaller class sizes for some grades
By STACY BRANDT - Staff Writer | ∞
CARLSBAD ---- The Carlsbad Unified School District could be in better shape next year than administrators expected, partly because more property tax money is coming in as the number of students is leveling out, school officials said Wednesday.
The 10,000-student district probably will bring in more money through property taxes this year than it would have from the state's per-student funding system, said Walter Freeman, assistant superintendent in charge of business services.
The discussion came as part of a budget update at the school board's regular meeting Wednesday.
Also at the meeting, district officials said they expect to be able to roll back some of the $5.6 million in budget cuts the board approved earlier this month.
The district will be able to maintain fewer students in third-grade and high school classes, school officials said Wednesday. Because of this, it will be able to take back at least some of the 100 layoff notices issued to teachers earlier this month.
The decision to keep some of the teachers was based on an updated budget proposal Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released earlier this month that allocated a bit more money to schools than the one he released at the beginning of the year.
"We made some cuts that none of us wanted to make," board President Elisa Williamson said at Wednesday's school board meeting. "Now, with the May revise that came out two weeks ago, things are much rosier."
District officials still expect to have to cut as much as $4.5 million from the $80 million they expected to spend next year.
It's still too early to tell which of the other budget cuts will be required. District officials expect to present a budget for the 2008-09 school year at the board's June 11 meeting.
Districts that bring in more money from property taxes than they would have from the state's per-pupil funding system are known as "basic aid" districts. Though the designation is relatively rare, several districts along the San Diego County coast qualify for this designation, including ones in Cardiff, Encinitas and Solana Beach.
In Carlsbad, property taxes are only expected to bring in an additional $65,000 or so this year, which won't have a big effect on the budget right away, Freeman said. Still, that amount could grow in the future if property tax revenue continues to climb and enrollment remains steady.
"In the long range, this is probably very good for Carlsbad," Freeman said.
District officials should know in mid-July exactly how much they will get from property taxes, he said.
In the past, allowing students to transfer into Carlsbad schools from outside brought more money for the district. As a basic aid district, that will no longer be the case because the amount of money coming in will be based on property taxes instead of attendance.
Because of this, the district may begin to reject requests from parents to transfer their students into Carlsbad Unified schools, Superintendent John Roach said Wednesday.
Contact staff writer Stacy Brandt at (760) 901-4009 or sbrandt@nctimes.com.
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Eskimo wrote on May 29, 2008 6:21 AM:That's perverse.
If a school district's borders enclose property that is valuable enough, then its leaders have an incentive to keep the barbarians (transfer requests) out.
However, the circle of aristocracy is not complete.
The majority of graduates will go off to universities and never return to Carlsbad.
That is right wrote on May 29, 2008 6:27 AM:with all of the foreclosures and homes up for sale, who will be paying property tax?
Cantinflas wrote on May 29, 2008 7:08 AM:Correct me if I am wrong but haven't we been told ad infinitum that real estate in California has gone to hell in a handbag? Property values are down, foreclosures are rampant, things look terrible for years to come. So how can the CUSD be expecting more money?
Hahahahaha wrote on May 29, 2008 7:16 AM:Yeah right, I was at the county assesors office yesterday in line with many there to reduce their property taxes because of the decrease in home values.
Mr. Know-It-All wrote on May 29, 2008 7:32 AM:Eskimo
[-] wrote on May 29, 2008 6:21 AM:
Hey, Eskimo! Don't worry. More money does not mean better education. The Carlsbad Unified School District, like most other school districts, will squander the funds on expenditures unrelated to enhancing the classroom experience for our children.
Carlsbads property values.. wrote on May 29, 2008 9:14 AM:The reason Carlsbad has this extra money is that significantly fewer homes in Carlsbad had adjustable rate loans and therefore far fewer foreclosures. In higher end neighborhoods homes actually held their values quite well and most of the rest of Carlsbad did better than most other cities in holding values. Therefore more tax revenue for the city and schools as compared to less fortunate communities. While not perfect our city leaders over the years and it's citizens are responsible for this. Why else are some cities going bankrupt or having to make drastic budget cuts as well as their school districts doing far worse than many. I'm so gratefull to live in Carlsbad and I pray that other cities observe and learn from Carlsbad's example and apply the lessons to their cities and towns. Carlsbad is not perfect but better, and in some cases way better than most.
Barb wrote on May 29, 2008 6:25 PM:I certainly don't see what is better about this proposal. Yes the teachers are saved because the poor classified employees are still losing their jobs which still equals the 4.5 million in cuts they started with. What can be good about that! Why doesn't the news report about those hard working people that help make the schools run. Wake up people of Carlsbad and pay attention to what your School Board and Superintendent are doing to your city!
Move them out wrote on May 29, 2008 9:28 PM:Based on this change, I respectfully submit to CUSD that the parents of ALL children who are not Carlsbad residents be notified before the completion of the school year that they will be required to transfer out of CUSD prior to the commencement of the next school year. The timing is appropriate and will not require any mid-year changes if CUSD acts quickly. This will also ensure that parents and surrounding school districts have ample opportunity to plan for the shift of student population back into their respective systems. In the past, the argument of "per student funding" from the State was enough to open (and greatly overcrowd) Carlsbad schools with children from surrounding communities, but if we are now shifting to a process of funding derived solely from property taxes of Carlsbad residents, then we deserve to have the education resources devoted to our children. I'm certain I will be flamed for this opinion, but it's a very basic concept now. The schools are being funded by the residents of Carlsbad. As long as there is a single overcrowded classroom, as long as there is a single "trailer classroom" and as long as there is a single academic or enhancement program which cannot be fully funded to the benefit of the children of Carlsbad, then it is time to stop subsidizing for those in the neighboring communities on the back of the Carlsbad taxpayer.
Nodding in agreement wrote on May 30, 2008 12:58 PM:To Barb, you make a great point. Having good teachers is essential, but support staff are essential to education as well. Some teachers are capable and tech savvy, but speaking from experience, most are not and have no idea how to do things of any consequence on a computer. Yet I saw in a recent CUSD publication that the budget cuts were targeting the technology dept...AGAIN. Education not only consists of a classroom, but an entire school district environment, and it is unfortunate that more value is not placed on the classified staff who support the learning process as well.
To Move them out: I couldn't agree more, let other cities pay for educating their residents, not our district. Would make it easier to not have to accept transfers for Special Ed students who are not Carlsbad residents, and cost dearly to educate and babysit. Let the resident districts take care of their own problems and stop pushing them off on the surrounding districts.
Panic is over wrote on May 30, 2008 4:27 PM:The sky isn't falling! Again the big crisis is over and the teachers will all keep their jobs and get raises. expect this every year. This "govenator" likes to be the HERO and save the schools at the last minute. This was all a big hoax.
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